How to Write a Reflective Essay Using Gibbs' Reflective Cycle
Key takeaways
- Reflective writing examines a personal experience: what happened, how you felt, what you learned and what you'll do differently.
- Gibbs' reflective cycle (1988) has six stages: Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion, Action plan.
- Unlike most academic writing, reflective essays use first person ("I"), but they still need theory and references.
Gibbs' reflective cycle: the six stages
| Stage | Question | Example sentence starter |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Description | What happened? | "During my clinical placement, I cared for a patient who…" |
| 2. Feelings | What were you thinking and feeling? | "At first I felt anxious because…" |
| 3. Evaluation | What was good and bad about the experience? | "What went well was… However…" |
| 4. Analysis | What sense can you make of it? (Use theory and literature.) | "According to Smith (2020), effective communication…" |
| 5. Conclusion | What else could you have done? | "In hindsight, I could have…" |
| 6. Action plan | What will you do next time? | "In future, I will…, and I will develop this skill by…" |
Tips
- Keep the description short. Most marks are in analysis and action planning
- Link your experience to theory, policy or research in the analysis stage
- Be honest about mistakes; that is the point of reflection
- Keep patient, student and client details confidential. Anonymize names and places
Other reflective models
- Driscoll's model: What? So what? Now what?
- Kolb's learning cycle: experience, reflection, conceptualization, experimentation
- Schön: reflection-in-action vs. reflection-on-action
Frequently asked questions
Can I use "I" in a reflective essay?
Yes. Reflective essays are written in the first person.
Do reflective essays need references?
Usually yes, especially in nursing and education. Support your analysis with theory and research.
How long should a reflective essay be?
Commonly 1,000–2,000 words. Follow your assignment brief.
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